Partnering with Missionaries

When They are in their area of service:

Ask to receive updates and prayer requests.
Send birthday and holiday cards.
Email short notes of encouragement.
Send a care package (recent magazines, copies of popular TVshows/movies, peanut butter!).
Get a list of their “favorites” or “things they miss most from the U.S.” and send these to them periodically.
Include them on the Small Group’s e-mail mailing list. Missionaries like to keep informed on what you are doing as well.
Have members of your Small Group sign up for Skype (www.skype.com), and talk to your missionary computer-to-computer for free.
Two times a year set aside a Small Group meeting to pray exclusively for your missionary (their spiritual vitality, family life, ministry needs, etc.) Provide a subscription to a magazine (news, a hobby of theirs, children’s magazine, etc.
Share good books you have read.
Send them a book or a worship CD on their birthday.
Consider visiting your missionary.

Have them stay in the home of someone from the Small Group. Invite them to attend your Small Group.
If they are living in the area while on furlough, encourage them to attend on a regular basis.
Have them share at least one or two times about their ministry in depth. After that, allow them to become a normal member of your Small Group for the rest of their time in the area.